I agree with Obama. I do believe a country is stronger when information flows freely and is accessible. In addition, people have the right to know what is going on in the world. I don't think it is fair for the Chinese government to block information especially if it could help the country and the world as a whole. Why does China block social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter? I don't find either of them harmful or something that the Chinese government needs to prevent the Chinese from using. Together the United States and China can lead the world to improvements like for the climate and economy. They are two of the most powerful countries and others will follow with change if the the U.S. and China go first. I think it is a smart move for Obama to want to work with China since it are a rising power and in the next decade or so China is going to have an even larger influence on everything in the world. It is better to be with than against a powerful nation. The younger generations are going to be controlling the world in the upcoming years. It is better for them to be informed and ready to take on the world. Your thoughts?
Trump’s NY Criminal Trial, Day 6
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25 comments:
"Facebook and Twitter? I don't find either of them harmful or something that the Chinese government needs to prevent the Chinese from using."
Just a thought but I think they want to censor websites such as those in order to avoid "mobocracy". With enough support, people can change the government. And the internet is definitely a good tool in uniting people from afar.
I agree with Obama that China should stop censoring internet. By not allowing people in China to go to certain sites such as Facebook or Twitter, it limits people to get in contact with others from around the world and it also blocks any knowledge or ideas which people in China are unable to be exposed to.
"Why does China block social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter?"
For the same reasons people block me on Facebook. They misunderstand and assume the worst.
Their worries are completely misplaced.
Those people who blocked me on Facebook, you know who you are, and so do I - it's very obvious when I'm blocked. You can thank your friends for helping me figure it out.
I agree with both Lily and Goldie. This is just another way for China to control their people, but eventually if this is against the will of the public, there will be some sort of outbreak. I think it is healthy and important that people can access unregulated information. I understand the fear of "harmful" information, but honestly, I think adults can judge what is good and bad for themselves.
And Kevin, I understand your concern in saying "Those people who blocked me on Facebook, you know who you are, and so do I - it's very obvious when I'm blocked. You can thank your friends for helping me figure it out.", but I do not think this is appropriate.
Yeah I don't really think Facebook and Twitter are very harmful and agree with Goldie. But after all, China has a strict regime and will have to agree with Lily on this point.
Kevin, I don't know what's going on but personally, I really do think that it's a person's choice over who they befriend. I wouldn't necessarily say that people assume the worst. I'm quite assured that some people think about it for a long time and ponder about things that happen and evaluate based on their own judgments.
It is pretty ridiculous that China has blocked internet users from websites such as facebook. I understand that the internet can be harmful at times, but everyone should be able to make their own choices. If China wants to censor websites, they should censor the ones that are actually harmful.
Kevin, I understand that you may be angry that people are blocking you on facebook, but I dont think it's relevant this blog. I think you're assuming that people misunderstand and assume the worst when they really don't.
Ya i agree with everyone one here. China is a communist regime and i guess websites like facebook and twitter are ways of expressing one's opinion so China blocks these sights in order to contain people's opinons.
Kevin,i dont understand how people "misunderstand and assume the worst." What is there to assume the worst about; people have the right to choose who they wish to interact with.
China fears that with all the foreign media depicting its government as inhumane, the people really will turn against it.
"I wouldn't necessarily say that people assume the worst. I'm quite assured that some people think about it for a long time and ponder about things that happen and evaluate based on their own judgments."
So, based on that last sentence, if suppose I change myself, people will change their attitudes and stance towards me?
I highly doubt that these judgements are a good thing, and that's one reason why I don't usually talk to people in person; I suspect that they are unfriendly.
"people have the right to choose who they wish to interact with."
Yet, the people who block me (I presume) call themselves open-minded. I'm probably right when I say that I'm the only person on their block list.
I'm not angry, and anyone who knows me well could probably testify to that.
I'm willing to change myself if I do see an opportunity to change other people's attitudes towards me. But, somehow, I don't think this chance will ever come by.
Maybe we can get Obama to talk to the district about taking off the firewalls...hmmm...*purposeful chin stroke*
To be perfectly honest, Kevin, you sound extremely angry.
The reason China is blocking networking sites like Twitter and Facebook is to prevent the rise of anti-civic groups and thus widespread anti-civic behavior.
In a society like ours, where free speech is taken for granted, a social networking site doesn't seem to be a big deal. But in an authoritarian government, the ability to have access to groups promoting anti-civic ideas as long as you have a computer is a huge deal. A government like China's has every reason to fear the people, so in order to stay in power it needs to take certain precautions and among these is censorship.
"To be perfectly honest, Kevin, you sound extremely angry."
My apologies, Joe.
How does one sound inquisitive and critical without sounding angry?
Kevin, I think I speak for everyone when I say that the comments abou whether or not people are blokong you on facebook are extremely inappropriate for this blog. If you were truly "inquisitive and critical" we'd be discussing China's domestic policy, not your issues with social networking sites.
Seeing other people making posts about personal stuff, I don't understand why I can't post my personal issues here. Besides, this post is about censorship and social networks.
There are more than one meaning to "inquisitive and critical"; I just want to know what and how you guys think.
I have never seen anyone else post anything about how someone blocked them on facebook. It's irrelevant and inappropriate. Please stop.
"I just want to know what and how you guys think."
If you truly wanted to know how and what we think, you can stop calling us close-minded.
"is to prevent the rise of anti-civic groups and thus widespread anti-civic behavior" (Sam). Yes!
Kevin, I would urge you not to change who you are for such reasons. Surrendering personal identity for a mass-produced persona is exactly what our modern media-based society is all about. The general opinions etc. of society are invariably vicissitudinous :), no matter who you are. But even concerning the opinions respectable individuals, in the end, opinions can only be opinions. There is no way for people to objectively quantify who you are or who anyone else is for that matter. Nobody is to blame because that is just the way it is (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBPFvp750sc). Being confident about one's own identity is all one can do and is all that really matters. :)
On the topic of whether the Chinese government stands to gain anything by blocking Twitter and Facebook, I think that both sites could be quite powerful in exposing and spreading things the government might want to keep secret. Just look at how Twitter was used during the elections in Iran; I doubt that the regime in Iran was particularly happy about the footage of opposition protests that got out.
-Esther A
The Chinese government is literally delaying the inevitable; they can't censor the web forever, and I suspect that they know that. The world is flat in the digital world. It may have been easy to censor information before the rise of computers, but that's not true today.
Well, Joe, I don't have any other opportunity to explain myself other than in this blog.
Ok, I agree, I'll give all of you the benefit of the doubt that you're not closeminded.
Fear not, William, there are many things that separate me from everybody else. It's almost like I'm from Mars. Adjusting to the social environment won't lessen my personality very much.
Besides, this change is more like showing my human side, opening up in other words.
Isolation makes one very callous after several years.
I agree with most people here. People have the right to choose what websites they want to go on. The government should not fear for unregulated information. Most people would be able to judge between good and bad.
I agree, Joe. Yes, Kevin. Some of your comments here are inappropriate.
Those people who blocked me on Facebook, you know who you are, and so do I - it's very obvious when I'm blocked. You can thank your friends for helping me figure it out."--People have the right to choose who they interact with.
You're all right. I'm sorry. People do have the right to choose who they want to interact with. This also means that if someone was in danger, I have the choice of interacting (or not) to save that person's life. ;)
This also means that China has no right to censor the web; by doing so, it is choosing for its citizens who they should interact with. See the connections?
China censors many more websites than simply twitter and facebook.I believe the point of Obama's urging is not to unblock those particular ones but all of the internet in general.
As for facebook and twitter, china blocks them I would guess mostly because of how powerful of tools the two are are at getting information to many people. The aim of the chinese government is to control the flow of certain information.
The whole reason China is attempting to filter the internet is BECAUSE people can tell the difference between good and bad. A person in China with access to only information granted to them by the government is going to assume that they have a decent life (which is relatively true).
Give them access to the internet, and they'll read about how the Chinese government is restricting their rights and all sorts of negative comments about the state of China. They'll start thinking that maybe their life isn't so nice, and that the Chinese government is actively trying to suppress them. Get enough people thinking like that and the government is in trouble.
So yes, Facebook and Twitter ARE harmful to the government and the government is doing the smart thing by blocking access to sites like those and others.
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